Ballon d’Olt disappointment will inspire Yamal, says Barcelona Coach Flick

Barcelona star Lamine Yamal is driven to larger heights after being beaten to the Ballon d’Or by Ousmane Dembele, said coach Hansi Flick of the club on Wednesday.

The 18-year-old winger became second behind Paris Saint-Germain striker Dembele on the Blitse Gala in Paris on Monday in the fight to become the best player in the world, but won the Kopa trophy for the best young player.

«I spoke to him yesterday and I think he sees it (in the) good (way), so it is also the motivation for him for the coming years,» Flick said a press conference.

«Dembele, he deserved it too, it is a mood and many things to happen and I think he has accepted this in a good way, and he is motivated to show it this season.

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«Maybe next season, he will also be an option for the Ballon d’Or, but I really appreciate that many players from our team are in this situation, and it’s great for our team. It shows a lot of how your last season was, and this is also our goal for this season.»

Yamal then played Barcelona a domestic Treble from La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup won.

The wing player will miss Thursday’s collision at Real Oviedo with a groin problem while the champion tries to keep pace with La Liga -leader Real Madrid, who beat Levante on Tuesday to move five points from Barca.

Last season the Catalans struggled in competitions without the teenager, but they beat Valencia and Getafe without him in their previous two games.

«I am really happy, I never think about which player we miss, I only concentrate on the team we have,» said Flick.

«Which players are the options to be in the starting XI … I am happy with my team. It makes no difference, every starting XI can win competitions. It’s not a big problem.»

Midfielder Gavi will be the next four to five months after undergoing knee operation on Tuesday.

The 21-year-old missed almost a year after a knee ligament in November 2023.

«We have to take care of him, we have to go step by step, because he is 21 years old and he has a huge career in the next 10 to 15 years,» said Flick.

«He is a player with a big, big heart, he is a player with a lot of emotion, he is a player who lives … I would not die for this club, but he is so and I am really happy to have him in my team.

«Of course we wait until he is back, it’s not easy for this team, because he has enormous quality for us, but each of us will support him, will help him reach his level again, and this is our goal for him now.»

Published on September 24, 2025